Delayed anterior decompression in patients with spinal cord and cauda equina injuries of the thoracolumbar spine |
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Authors: | E E Transfeldt D White D S Bradford B Roche |
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Affiliation: | Twin Cities Scoliosis Spine Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota. |
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Abstract: | Forty-nine patients with complete and incomplete injuries of the spinal cord or cauda equina who had undergone anterior decompression at a minimum of 3 months after injury were examined. Follow-up was from 12 months to 19 years. Postoperative neurologic improvement occurred in 46.5% of patients with incomplete injuries. If the surgery was performed less than 2 years after injury, neurologic improvement occurred in 68% with an improvement in Frankel grade of 32%. Bladder function improved in 27% of patients and if operated on less than 2 years after injury improvement occurred in 43%. Conus medullaris decompression resulted in a 50% improvement. There was an 83% improvement in the pattern of pain after decompression. Of 23 patients with preoperative spasticity, 10 improved but 6 were worse after surgery. |
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